Review: The Jewel Box
Back in the Sixties while Motown music filled the airwaves, naïve Jill Novak acknowledged her knack for choosing losers when boring Husband Number One vanished, leaving her to support their two-year-old. Afflicted with planning deficit disorder, the perpetual daydreamer soon morphs from small town Kill to sophisticated big city Cherie, but a new name does not a new life bring. In 1969 Houston, Cherie encounters a rogue's gallery of strange, wonderful and sometimes dangerous characters; a suave salesman who turns brutal, a drop-dead gorgeous transsexual, a hairy cop who incorporates fondling girls into his job, a walleyed girl whose peppers inevitably park on men's private parts, a wannabe Mafia hit man, and a warped neighbor whose desires for friendship borders on stalking. But it is two distinctly different men-a middle-age gregarious gambler and a twenty-something gruff intellectual- who jump on board and share Jill-Cherie's rollicking roller coaster ride into the 21st Century and womanhood.
Filled with moments from the laid-back Age of Aquarius through the materialistic, high-speed Internet ear, The Jewel Box music and reference to the times/ political climate reflect the rocky terrain of the country (and subsequent growth) parallel with that of its main character. This romantic family sage reminds us true love rarely runs smooth, true friendship never wavers, occasionally everyone screws up, and sometimes slipping off tracks leads to profound appreciation as we approach our destination.
I received this book to give an honest review.
Just by reading the blurb I probably would not have picked this book up only because it is not my normal type of a read. But I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read it because I was sucked into the story from the beginning.
You are reading into the life of Jill who later on goes by the name Cherie and the ups and down of her life. She honestly can not seem to find happiness and when she does it is like something that is forbidden. I have to say favorite character was Beau Duvale who was the owner of the Jewel Box that Jill first worked out. It is a topless bar and no matter how many times she would quit because of a man Beau still let her come back and kept giving her advice to help her out. Not only that he is a lover of books the classic kind.
While working there Jill finds her true love, Gabriel O'Quinn and let me say he is just a guy you would remember. But with Jill and Gabriel getting together it seems that fate is not ready for them two to be together at this time. They both go through ups and downs of their own, they end up finding themselves after an emotional roller coaster. I found myself at times wanting to put them both in a room and say your not coming out until you realize the love you two have for each other. The ending was a WOW! Loved it.
You are introduced to some pretty cool characters, some that will drive you just as batty as they did Cherie. This story takes place between 1969-2003 and it doesn't confuse you with that so that is a good. But there is a lot of information within the story. I really am going to keep my eye on this author as I like her writing style and story she can weave together.
Just by reading the blurb I probably would not have picked this book up only because it is not my normal type of a read. But I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read it because I was sucked into the story from the beginning.
You are reading into the life of Jill who later on goes by the name Cherie and the ups and down of her life. She honestly can not seem to find happiness and when she does it is like something that is forbidden. I have to say favorite character was Beau Duvale who was the owner of the Jewel Box that Jill first worked out. It is a topless bar and no matter how many times she would quit because of a man Beau still let her come back and kept giving her advice to help her out. Not only that he is a lover of books the classic kind.
While working there Jill finds her true love, Gabriel O'Quinn and let me say he is just a guy you would remember. But with Jill and Gabriel getting together it seems that fate is not ready for them two to be together at this time. They both go through ups and downs of their own, they end up finding themselves after an emotional roller coaster. I found myself at times wanting to put them both in a room and say your not coming out until you realize the love you two have for each other. The ending was a WOW! Loved it.
You are introduced to some pretty cool characters, some that will drive you just as batty as they did Cherie. This story takes place between 1969-2003 and it doesn't confuse you with that so that is a good. But there is a lot of information within the story. I really am going to keep my eye on this author as I like her writing style and story she can weave together.
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